Shady, rowhouse landscaping help!
Kendrah
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
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Kendrah
6 years agoRelated Discussions
landscape design ideas - shady formal garden
Comments (7)I would challenge your description of the area as being "devoid of landscaping." What you have there is landscaping that consists of a large tree. Seen as a positive, the tree already gives the area, in my opinion, much of what you seek: elegance and tranquility. I'd bet it's a lovely shaded glade in summer, although the foliage is too high to address the excellent point made above regarding visibility from the neighbours. Address that somehow, make the entry arbours that you suggest, and add a chair and a small table for your book and beverage, and you could already put that in a landscaping magazine. Unfortunately the tree can also be seen as a negative. The tree requires most of the nutrients and moisture that the ground there has to offer. Depending on what kind of tree it is and whether it has shallow or deep roots, you may or may not be able to plant much else successfully. The amount of weed growth is indicative of how likely it is that you can grow other plants - note the bare ground on your hellstrip, out by the street, that announces that THAT tree does not share well. There is a bit of growth between the houses, so you may be luckier there. But also, the debris from the tree gives plants below a bit of a challenge, and they may suffer; at the least they won't tend to look nice - again, depending on what kind of tree it is. For example, hostas grown near a tree that sheds constantly look like heck their entire growing season. I guess I belong to a minority that believes children can be taught not to climb into a fountain, if a fountain is what you want, but tree debris cannot, and will indeed have to be considered in your design - ask me how I know! What might be more fun and easier to maintain is a birdbath. What will work? I think you need to think of dry shade conditions when you pick your plants, and of hardscaping that can be easily cleaned of tree debris, or that still shows through piles of it. I don't really get a sense yet of what you want this area to do, which is what would dictate how to start - with a pathway, a seating destination, or just something that looks nice. If the latter, with a formal style, then a vignette of evergreens, coniferous and broadleaf, enhanced with hellebores and ferns for instance, would be excellent - if plants will grow and thrive under that tree. That's the million dollar question. One plant that I'm pretty sure could be amazing there, at certain times, would be cyclamen. You can also go container in a situation like this - that's what I do in the areas under my willow, but a willow tree is in a class of its own for interference. KarinL...See MoreNewbie needs help with Shady front yard landscaping, please :)
Comments (6)This isn't a 'shady' area. It is an area that gets decent sun. Shade plants can often handle an eastern exposure, but not always. Start by deciding what you would like it to look like *in the winter*. Deciduous shrubs look like dead sticks. So it is usual to plant shrubs that have some sort of color during the winter. Instead of the hydrangea, a blue colored conifer like a blue juniper would provide that color all year, then a shorter, flowering shrub could be planted in front. There are also gold conifers. BTW, the shrubs on the left are probably some sort of flowering shrub. I'd get them ID'ed before yanking them out. A lot of things are looking unusually ratty after this winter, and they may just need a bit of time and some pruning to look decent....See MoreLandscaping under a shady oak
Comments (41)Well my opinion , is thus first to those who suggest cutting down the oak .They might check their local ordinances,you must acquire a permit before ever even thinking of harming these majestic trees. If you do and are caught by code enforcement it could cost you in hefty fines and having to plant many oaks for the one you destroyed all based on the girth of the trunk. Now to the planting of Bromeliads if you spend no time at all outside these plants are great as mosquito breeding grounds as they hold water in their throat and mosquitos will lay their eggs there ensuring blood sucking varmints galore. Some people have already made some great suggestions . My favorites are as follows Azaleas ( there are a lot of choices in flower colors and sizes. Azaleas are shallow rooter. So buying smaller one gallons can assure better results. Amending the soil by using Miracle grow potting soil will give you a great start. Remember if you want showy flowers in Feruary and March prune after flowering stops and never ever prune after 4 th of July . Otherwise you will cut off the buds. So cut only rooster tails ( tall scraggly unruly branches that grow twice as tall as the rest of the plant. Ferns are great and thrive under oaks and are fairly maintenance free. ,they also spread filling areas with little output of money. My favorites are Holly Ferns, Foxtail ferns and the old standard Boston ferns. A little fish emulsion amended into the soil prior to planting can garner good results. Camelias, Hydrangeas, are awesome as they live all year round . annuals can sometimes give you many months and even years of pleasure ( as they can reseed themselves) caladiums ( which are bulbs ) in a grouping surrounded by impatiens are wonderous way to get color in the shade of an Oak . Remember watering during hot months and a little osmocote mixed into the potting mix and sprinkled around each flower can give give your flowers months of food thanks to its time release formula. Philodendrons of all sorts are also a good choice. Mondo grass, liriope ( big blue or Aztec ( variegated) Asiatic jasmine is somewhat minimal maintenance and there are new varieties out, that have bright pink foliage mixed in and these newbies just love the shade. Oak leaves make a great natural mulch ( as when the leaves break down the turn the soil slightly acid P.H. And this is ideal for all the plants I have mentioned above. Also consider large boulders water features like a small water fall .running water splashes onto plants and the sound of water has a calming and cooling on humans when it is hot . Last the shade from large trees especially oaks can drop temperature by a few degrees . Couple that with a slight breeze and you will appreciate the shade of an oak especially on a hot day. Try to buy oaks from a reputable nursery. Live is the majestic tree that outlives most humans two three fold or more. Laura oaks are fast growing a six foot tree at planting with loving maintenance can see growth of twice to three times its height and width in 3 to 5 short years. Look around your neighborhood or surrounding coomunity if you spot an oak take note as to what plants are growing under oaks with your own similar exposure. To the person that stated sandy soil is just around your tree. Florida soil is primarily sandy . Last consult your local nurseryman,He will be the best investment . Rob...See MorePlants for shady front landscape
Comments (2)I have shade on the north side of my house and partial shade in the front. The following do well in both locations: heuchera (foliage and flowers), hakone, dusty miller (will last for years IF you mulch well and it gets about two hours of sun), Japanese fern (color). I have grown Moonbeam coreopsis with three hours of sun, and festucca glauca (ornamental grass), digitalis (perennial as are all my suggestions). Some sedum does well in shade, but I do not know the names of the varieties that I own. Good luck! Sorry for the late response. I just joined the Forum....See Morepartim
6 years agoKendrah
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6 years agoKendrah
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6 years agoDalton the Bengal (Zone 6)
6 years ago
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